Bounce Magazine July 2018

Billy Walker
the Box Office
Champion...
JULY 2018 | ISSUE #69
BY RALPH OATES
A series of articles which will feature boxing facts
from both the past to the present...
During his career heavyweight
Billy Walker was a promoters
dream. When Walker was in
action there were few if any
empty seats in the house. The
man always came to fight win or
lose he would give it everything
he had in the ring. Billy was
loved by the fans who gave him
great support.
Billy who won the Amateur
Boxing Association heavyweight
title in 1961 was born in London
on the 3rd March 1939. When
he turned to the punch for pay
code Walker was managed by
his older brother George who
was himself a former fighter
having participated in the lightheavyweight
division.
Billy made his much anticipated
debut in the professional
ranks on the 27th March 1962
stopping opponent Jose Peyre
of Belgium in round five of a
scheduled eight at the Empire
Pool Wembley London. In the
years which followed Walker
crossed gloves with fighters
such as Thad Spencer, Johnny
Prescott, Joe Bygraves, Joe
Erskine, Brian London, Eduardo
Corletti, Giulio Rinaldi and Ray
Patterson.
Billy had two cracks at a major
title during his career which
ended in failure. The first tilt at a
championship came on the 21st
March 1967 against Germany’s
world ranked Karl Mildenberger
for the European heavyweight
crown the venue being the
Empire Pool Wembley London.
From the start this looked to be
a difficult task for the Londoner.
Mildenberger was a competitor
who had fought at the highest
level and was favoured to
emerge the victor from this
meeting. Walker was not fazed
by the champion’s reputation
and attacked from the start.
Walker’s brave efforts however
proved futile since Mildenberger
retained the title by stopping
him in eight rounds in a bout
set for 15.
The second chance to win a
championship came on the 7th
November 1967 once again the
venue was the Empire Pool
Wembley London. Walker was
to do battle with the formidable
and experienced Henry Cooper
for the British & Empire
heavyweight titles.This was
another tough fight for Billy.
Cooper like Karl Mildenberger
was world rated and had mixed
it with the very best during his
time in the ring. Billy gave it his
all but came up empty when the
bout was stopped in Coopers
favour by the referee in round
six of a scheduled 15.
Walker’s career came to an end
on the 25th March 1968 when he
was matched with Jack Bodell
who stopped him in the eight
stanza of a scheduled ten. Both
men hit the canvas during the
exciting encounter. Walker may
have lost the fight but he went
out on his shield a warrior to the
end. Walker had all the heart
in the world. It was only fitting
that Billy’s last fight should end
where it started at the Empire
Pool Wembley London.
Many fighters over the years
have sadly made ill advised
come-backs to the sport after
retiring only to find that they
could not recapture their past
form often losing to opponents
whom they would have easily
beaten when at their peak.
Gladly Billy did not take that
route he took the sensible view
that once he retired he stayed
retired.
True Walker did not win a
professional title during his
paid career but it should not
be forgotten that Billy did earn
the distinction of being the
undisputed champion at the
box-office.Walker continued to
contribute to boxing when in
retirement later becoming an
Honorary Steward of The British
Boxing Board of Control.
Billy Walker was without doubt
a credit to British boxing
retiring from the sport with a
record of 31 contests winning 21
drawing two and losing eight.
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